Historical instructor

ADAM KERN

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.68/5 from 25 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

LITTRANS 263
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Lectures were a bit rambly at times, but you need to pay attention because little details will be on quizzes. He knows his stuff, but participation is encouraged and he wont provide answers without class discussion. Overall, nice guy and interesting class. Note: this class was cross-listed with Asian 300 + 253.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
DON"T choose this prof. For one, your final grade is not shown on canvas until it shows up on your transcript. Your participation grade is heavily based on if the professor likes you, so if you want an A, go to his office hours. I was not aware of this since it was not mentioned in the syllabus, and it was the one factor that dropped me to an AB.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 3/5Difficulty 1/5
Prof. Kern was okay. This was a guest lecturer class though so he really didn't actually lecture much. The format was okay, but during this session he was unable to any of the lecturers in person, understandable but sad. When he did lecture he seemed knowledgeable. He also really loves to play devils advocate when people participate in class.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
I would rather be tied to the back of the 80 and dragged across campus than attend this lecture taught by a white man who doesn't understand privilege. craziest superiority complex. says the field would improve if all the text was written by him. yeah and maybe if I taught this class, everyone's will to attend this god awful class would improve.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 3/5Difficulty 1/5
There is an absurd amount of required reading for this class. Upwards of 600 pages in a week at times. But overall an interesting experience and an easy class. The professor himself is kind of an oddball.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with ADAM KERN

ASIAN 253

Japanese Popular Culture

Credits unavailable

ASIAN 253 introduces Japanese popular culture, examining the culture, life-styles, and thought of the Japanese people with reference to their history, literature, and art.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Adam Kern

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Spring 2026
ASIAN 300

Topics in Asian Studies

3 credits

ASIAN 300 covers selected topics in the study of Asian Languages and Cultures.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Junko MoriAdam Kern+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Spring 2026
ASIAN 367

Haiku

Credits unavailable

Introduction to the haiku in its original Japanese context, arguing it was an invented tradition responding to modernization.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Adam Kern

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample
ASIAN 573

Readings in Classical Japanese Literature

Credits unavailable

This course covers extensive readings in Classical and Early Modern Japanese literature with discussion of visual-verbal content.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Adam Kern

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
ASIAN 799

Reading for Research

1–3 credits

ASIAN 799: READING FOR RESEARCH involves compiling reading lists and reading essential sources for preliminary exam fields under advisor guidance.

No offering record · Spring 2026

Junko MoriTyrell Haberkorn+3 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
LITTRANS 263

Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation

Credits unavailable

LITTRANS 263 provides a historical introduction to important Japanese literary works, focusing on traditions before 1868.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Adam Kern

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Spring 2026 · limited sample
LITTRANS 373

Topics in Japanese Literature

Credits unavailable

LITTRANS 373 offers in-depth study of specific themes in Japanese literary history, such as Contemporary Japanese Novels or Japanese Women Writers.

No offering record · Spring 2026

Adam Kern

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Fall 2023 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2026ASIAN 253Japanese Popular Culture
Spring 2026ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Spring 2026ASIAN 367Haiku
Spring 2026ASIAN 573Readings in Classical Japanese Literature
Spring 2026ASIAN 799Reading for Research
Spring 2026ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2026LITTRANS 263Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation
Spring 2026LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature
Fall 2025ASIAN 100Gateway to Asia: Special Topics
Fall 2025ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Fall 2025ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2025ASIAN 763Studies in Japanese Literature
Fall 2025ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2025ASIALANG 475Advanced Topics in Asian Translation
Spring 2025ASIAN 100Gateway to Asia: Special Topics
Spring 2025ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Spring 2025ASIAN 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2025ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2024ASIAN 354Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2024ASIAN 433Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures
Fall 2024ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2024ASIAN 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2024ASIAN 833Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures
Fall 2024ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2024ASIAN 367Haiku
Spring 2024ASIAN 376Manga
Spring 2024ASIAN 699Directed Study
Spring 2024ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2024LITTRANS 231Manga
Fall 2023ASIAN 310Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels: Theory, History, Method
Fall 2023ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2023ASIAN 699Directed Study
Fall 2023ASIAN 763Studies in Japanese Literature
Fall 2023ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2023ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2022ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2022ASIAN 310Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels: Theory, History, Method
Spring 2022ASIAN 367Haiku
Spring 2022ASIAN 573Readings in Classical Japanese Literature
Spring 2022ASIAN 799Reading for Research
Spring 2022ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Spring 2022INTLST 310International Learning Community Seminar
Fall 2021ASIAN 253Japanese Popular Culture
Fall 2021ASIAN 354Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2021ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2021ASIAN 699Directed Study
Fall 2021ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2021INTLST 310International Learning Community Seminar
Fall 2021LITTRANS 263Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation
Fall 2020ASIAN 354Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2020ASIAN 376Manga
Fall 2020ASIAN 533Readings in Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2020ASIAN 699Directed Study
Fall 2020ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2020LITTRANS 231Manga
Fall 2020LITTRANS 263Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation
Spring 2020ASIAN 100Gateway to Asia: Special Topics
Spring 2020ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Spring 2020ASIAN 433Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures
Spring 2020ASIAN 699Directed Study
Spring 2020ASIAN 833Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures
Spring 2020ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2019ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Fall 2019ASIAN 376Manga
Fall 2019ASIAN 763Studies in Japanese Literature
Fall 2019ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2019LITTRANS 231Manga
Spring 2019ASIAN 300Topics in Asian Studies
Spring 2019ASIAN 367Haiku
Spring 2019LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature
Fall 2018ASIAN 354Early Modern Japanese Literature
Fall 2018LITTRANS 231Manga
Fall 2018LITTRANS 263Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation
Spring 2018COMPLIT 203Introduction to Cross-cultural Literary Forms
Spring 2018LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature
Fall 2017LITTRANS 231Manga
Spring 2017LITTRANS 264Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation
Fall 2016LITTRANS 231Manga
Spring 2015LITTRANS 231Manga
Fall 2014INTER-LS 102First-year Seminar in the Humanities
Spring 2014LITTRANS 231Manga
Spring 2014LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature
Fall 2013INTER-LS 102First-year Seminar in the Humanities
Fall 2012LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature
Fall 2011LITTRANS 231Manga
Fall 2009LITTRANS 373Topics in Japanese Literature

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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